Lista Civica Italiana, seeking to give a different meaning to the Republic Day celebrations on 2 June, presents this proposal to the many (small) groups, associations, communities and themed networks, as well as genuine civic lists (hereinafter “groups”) that exist in Italy, inviting everyone to share it. This is a network radically different from those with a specific objective: it is a network which, given the times we live in, aims to REMAIN HUMAN – that is, to get to know one another through social gatherings, to build mutual trust, to support those amongst us who are struggling, to focus our efforts on shared goals and to learn to use the tools of politics better and in new ways.
Before continuing, please watch this short animated film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9Ef5WL53Vg,
it’s worth a thousand words.
These groups, which are probably the best yet least visible part of today’s society, are the driving force behind initiatives that are highly beneficial for improving society and the environment; unfortunately, as they are not networked with one another, they lack political clout and are therefore unable to challenge the laws that are often absurd and give rise to the very environmental and social problems they then find themselves fighting against. On their own they cannot tackle the root causes of these problems and so they wear themselves out like hamsters on a wheel.
Furthermore, the extreme complexity of our times calls for a political synthesis that enables coherent, shared and planned action.
Unfortunately, in today’s ‘world turned upside down’, the best part of civil society, rather than finding support in the institutions, encounters a great deal of bureaucracy, costly procedures and often even a creeping boycott.
Those who devote their time and skills to these groups wake up every morning knowing that they will have to fight against everyone and everything to do things that should be self-evident, such as producing good food, building healthy relationships, respecting the planet, pursuing peace, and putting a stop to the squandering of public money and attacks on public health.
It is time for these ‘groups’ to organise themselves by joining an inclusive network suited to their level – one that is based on equality, speaks their language, understands them, has simple and shared values, clear decision-making methods, and is also capable of using the tools of politics when deemed appropriate. Groups joining this network do not have to give up their identity and, of course, will continue to work towards their own aims.
However, they must set aside a minimum amount of time to:
– attending the network’s meetings,
– learning to interpret those institutional mechanisms that go unnoticed by most people (the workings of politics) which determine whether or not it is possible to participate in the state’s decision-making,
– identifying consequent joint strategic campaigns, with the aim of structurally improving the Italian state, which must transform from an obstacle into an active and facilitating partner. If we were to achieve results in this regard, the time devoted to the network would be amply rewarded.
The network must embody the same spirit as the 1947 Constituent Assembly. People with differing ideologies were able to reach an agreement because the objective was ‘lofty’: it was to give Italy, fresh from the war, a Constitution that would offer hope for a better future.
Now the aim is to stop those who think only of profit and believe, simply because they have the material resources to do so, that they can subjugate and standardise humanity through computerised control, wars and the unregulated use of force. (N.B.: on closer analysis, we would see that the more correct phrasing would be: Now the aim is to change those forms of politics and economics that allow the existence of people who think only of profit…)
It is a matter of all of us committing ourselves to prioritising solidarity, the pursuit of a peaceful and meaningful life for everyone, and the ability to enjoy the beauty that still surrounds us, whilst respecting our one and only planet.
Thanks to their culture and centuries-old history, Italian and European groups can play an important role in experimenting with new ideas, forging links with other peoples of the world and ushering in a new civilisation based on respect, tolerance and the rejection of war.
1) We must rediscover the profound meaning of politics in order to remain human!
Politics is humanity’s highest and noblest invention; it is not an activity naturally inherent in human beings: it must be cultivated, studied and taught in every school at every level. The profound meaning of politics lies in bringing together those with differing interests to find common ground without resorting to violence. It also possesses its own intrinsic dignity and autonomy and therefore does not require the crutch of ethics or morality, for it is well-organised politics that generates ethical behaviour. At present, all political activity has been swallowed up by the institutions, which is why citizens lack the means to influence the state’s decisions: the link with those who make the laws for everyone is missing.
Furthermore, the West, by a twist of history, has organised politics in a way that is inherently corrupting and divisive, because politics, conceived as a life’s work, becomes the primary objective of elected representatives at the expense of social and environmental goals and the promotion of peace.
A people who are unaware of the value of politics do not defend it, do not know how to use it, and therefore remain at the mercy of the powers that use it for their own ends.
2) The network we propose
2.1) The values we propose are: non-violence, making peace with the planet, the founding articles of the Italian Constitution, and the creation of ‘social politicity’. We must also move away from the old ‘Friend – Enemy’ categories of politics proposed by the German philosopher Carl Schmitt (1888–1995) and adopt those proposed by the philosopher Giuseppe Polistena: ‘Everyone – No One’. Everyone must be included within the scope of politics; no one must have so much power as to dominate others.
2.2) The working method is based on consensus: we focus on what unites us and continue to discuss what divides us.
2.3) The structure of the network. At national level, the network will have a facilitation group; it will have no ‘leader’ nor any inner circles. It will also have regional and local nodes capable of acting autonomously within the guidelines decided upon collectively. There will be no single spokesperson; instead, people will speak on the basis of their expertise. The network will establish a scientific committee; it will organise assemblies to decide on the course of action to take and the common objectives to pursue. It will be structured into working groups comprising the most competent people available: each group will enjoy a high degree of autonomy until proven otherwise.
The network must be resilient because it has a very difficult task ahead: until there is widespread awareness that the West is at risk of imploding and that life on the planet is at risk of extinction, until the new political paradigm characterised by the categories “Everyone – Nobody’, we will not have an easy time of it because our commitment will simply be mistaken for a struggle to take the position of leadership currently occupied by others who are totally immersed in the ‘Friend-Enemy’ logic.
2.4) During periods without elections the network will select a number of ‘strategic and symbolic’ campaigns from among those proposed by its members (e.g. the removal of nuclear bombs from military bases in Italy, boycotting companies that support genocide or wars, promoting alternative energy sources to free us from fossil fuels, supporting companies in crisis, etc.) and/or will work to resolve the strategic issues underlying the difficulties that plague us on a daily basis: consider the electoral law which, for over twenty years, has entrenched those already in parliament whilst excluding vital forces such as those represented by various groups. Or consider the need to regulate the development of information technology and social media in order to take it out of the hands of the few and place it under the firm control of the public; or to ensure that Italy plays an active role in the reform of the UN with the aim of transforming it into an assembly of peoples with the appropriate resources and authority to stop wars and coordinate human activities on the planet. There will never be peace unless states transfer sovereignty to a supranational body. State sovereignty is the fuel for wars; unfortunately, it is an effective smokescreen brandished by unscrupulous politicians.
2.5) During election periods, when the network feels ready and has decided to utilise political tools, it will begin by drafting an election manifesto summarising the concerns that the groups gather on a daily basis across the country; it will consult with leading experts; and it will have, in good time, trained the best candidates from civil society, selected by lottery from a pool of ‘eligible candidates’ proposed by the network’s groups. The network, without resorting to the intermediation of traditional parties – which, unfortunately, are still stuck in the old political paradigm – will launch the election campaign to get its own candidates elected. This will be governed by a specific rule stemming from the new political paradigm: those who are part of the network’s coordination committee cannot stand for election to public office, and those who are elected cannot hold power within the network. Furthermore, politics can no longer be regarded as a potential career for life. Terms of office must therefore be limited to a maximum of two; after that, one either returns home or trains the next generation of candidates. There must be no revolving door. It is clear that we need to reflect very carefully on the human aspects of this new way of doing politics because those who enter politics and do not belong to ‘privileged’ groups would be at a disadvantage and could not afford to be involved in politics.
Similarly, we must also consider how to resolve the issue of those who have currently made politics their life’s work: they are the result of a historical process stemming from forms of politics that we are only now beginning to understand. This, too, is a problem that must be addressed with non-violent methods and humanity.
3) Two certainties and one hope.
We are certain that the current system, based on the old political paradigm, is leading humanity to extinction.
We are certain that the transition from the old to the new political paradigm is necessary and urgent – perhaps even more so than the energy transition towards renewables: the latter would be much swifter if the former were already a reality.
We have the hope that the new political paradigm, despite all the implementation challenges linked to processes involving human beings and their weaknesses, may be a step towards a new civilisation.
Let us remain human!
Further information and how to stay in touch.
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On the website www.listacivicaitaliana.org you will find various articles that allow you to explore some of the concepts expressed here in greater depth.
We would like to remind you that LCI’s proposal is based on:
– the thirty-year studies of the philosopher Giuseppe Polistena, published in May 2022 in the book “Politica, questa sconosciuta” (Mimesis Edizioni)
– LCI’s political journey, which began with the Rete Lilliput initiative (2000), continued with the Rete Civica Italiana (2009), and involved a two-year founding process led by genuine civic associations and lists, culminating in 2013 in the establishment of Lista Civica Italiana. In November 2019, LCI was given a preview of Giuseppe Polistena’s research and immediately decided to regard it as one of the cornerstones of its approach to politics.
To this end, LCI is also updating its constitution to bring it fully into line with the new political paradigm and the network described here.
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